Thanking the little flower, she again started out and was just making
the last turn when who should she see in her path but Old Tabby Cat.
Fluffy looked but for an instant. She knew she must move quickly to
escape, so she turned about, yelled for help as loudly as she could,
and ran just as fast as her little legs would carry her. She was tired
already after her long walk and could not make very good time. Old
Tabby was gaining on her rapidly when Mrs. Woodpecker, who had heard
Fluffy’s first cry for help, flew at once to the rescue. She jumped on
Mrs. Tabby’s head and began pecking for all she was worth. This was
such a surprise to Old Tabby that she fell head over heels into a hole
by the roadside and it was quite a few minutes before she recovered
herself enough to peep out to try to discover just what had attacked
her. As she did so a big stone dropped from some place down in the
hole beside her, pinning her tail fast. It was some time before little
Timmy Mouse (for it was he who had rolled the stone on Old Tabby’s
tail) dared to look over the edge of the pit to see how well his plans
worked. “So it was you?” said Tabby, glaring at Timmy.
One look was enough for little Timmy and he scurried off home as fast
as he could go.